Recently, we have struggled with the number of pep band members at
some of our men's and women's basketball games and volleyball
matches, which in turn effects the quality of our game atmosphere. We
are unable to support our pep band financially. Do any of you have
incentive programs, track attendance of individuals, or give any
other special perks to the pep band members for attending your games?
Any suggestions that you have would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
- Brian VanAcker, Northwestern University
Responses:
We run into the same problem but we track all of their numbers and pay
them work study money (Fed money) as if it was a job. We also have a
bunch of them hold offices and pay them for that which has helped.
I give the band a couple of trade meals during the year...once during
the holidays and then during the WAC tournament. I get trade dollars
from local restaurants and then give to our band director. T-shirts and
goodies are also always acceptable. Our President is a music major...so
our band does what we ask...or he gets involved.
Our pep band is also the same individuals as our football marching band.
Since we (the athletic department) are financially responsible for this
program, we don't run into this problem. I know that does not help, but we do still throw little things the pep band's way, such as free t-shirts and other giveaways that we have for the games.
I will say though that even when we have run into some problems, we have
addressed this with our School of Music as well and they have been helpful
in rectifying the problem (since the members of the band are mostly also
students in that school and want to make sure that they are being the best
representatives of the particular school as they can).
I know that Texas A&M just added a pep band that is separate from the band
that performs at football. I am not sure if they pay for them or what, but you might be able to contact them and get some ideas.
We typically provide them with a coupon for a Hot-dog/Nachos/Popcorn & Soda at each home Football and men's and women's basketball contest. We also pay for their accommodations at our basketball championships in March. In addition, we recognize the senior band members, cheerleaders and dance team along with our men's basketball players on senior day. Hope this helps.
Purdue's marching and pep bands receive the MASS majority of their funds
from the Athletics Department. Are you able to hold the music school
and/or the directors accountable? As your teams continue to improve you
may be able to leverage attendance at regular season games against the
opportunity to travel to NCAA tournament games, etc.
Work with your band director to come up with floor promotions/shows that
feature the pep band and/or its members.
We provide free drinks for our band members...I don't think that's
enough to make them attend...but it does show we care about them which
can go along way.
Of course, don't forget the Senior introductions at your last home
game(s).
We don't do an incentive per se, but we travel them to the Atlantic 10 tournament. we have gone from no women's games 5 years ago, to about 90% of the games now. Each year the attitude changes depending on the kids in the band.
We work together with our Band Director to provide any t-shirts for the band members that come to certain events (i.e. Midknight Madness). College students love free t-shirts so if you have any lying around...
Our band does have a point system for the luxury of going to the conference tournament.
We ended up paying per game based on the position. Almost a Pay for Play.
If you can work with your student services, priority registration is
always a HUGE plus for our spirit squads.
I don't often reply to these emails, but this is one that hit home for me. I am going to turn the tables on you a bit and tell you that if you're having trouble getting them to attend, tell them they are no longer needed and go to all canned music (if you are able to do so). Some of the best atmospheres I have been in or seen use either all canned music or they alternate with the pep band on timeouts. Two places I would contact are Wake Forest and Univ. of Dayton - they rock the house with canned music and they alternate timeouts with the pep band.
I have the opposite problem in that we financially support our band and they bring 50-60 band members per game, but they aren't always open to playing new music or doing things differently, so our atmosphere suffers somewhat because it is the same old thing every game. Our cheer and dance squads ask for new music or canned music constantly. I don't know what other responses you'll receive, but thought you should know the position your currently in might not be too bad, if you want to try something new. Another suggestion would be to have your pep band just attend the games you know they will bring enough people to play.
Our students take a 1 credit jazz band class. Plus I believe they get
paid. Yep, I said it, they get paid. $200 for the semester.
We have given pep band members class credit for participating in the band (1 elective credit hour for the year). I took attendance at games. They met once each week for a rehearsal prior to basketball season, then during basketball season they just performed at games.
We also gave them shirts to wear and gave them money ($200) towards a post-season dinner.
At Oregon, we have a Green Garter Band and a Yellow Garter Band. Both bands consist of 13 kids and play at our events throughout the year. The GGB members get a full scholarship, plus books for being at each wbb and vb match ... the YGB gets $625 for books and fills in for events when school is not in session - some VB, some mbb and wbb, and at special events like our wrestling match or softball game with Oregon State. If a kid in the GGB can't make it, a kid who plays the similar instrument in the YGB fills in, or vice versa. Also, during the holidays, I'll throw a few left over pizzas or hot dogs their way after the game.
This system obviously costs us some cash but assures us of having a band there at each game / match. More importantly, it keeps the SWA and respective coaches out of my office wondering what we're doing about a band.
We do have a small pep band on scholarship, so they come to volleyball and women's basketball. But for those extra occasions (softball, soccer), we do find it helpful to feed them - pizza (from a sponsor?), hot dogs from concessions - since they are starving students.
At Sacred Heart we have done a few things:
a. Worked closely with the band director to address the needs of the band and put together a schedule that works for them becuase they perform at football as marching band, and at MBB, WBB and men's ice hockey as pep band during winter.
b. During MBB / WBB doubleheaders (3-4 per year) I will buy them pizza to eat between games.
c. We provide a link to the band website off our History and Traditions page, where we also have a short writeup about them and have the words to the school fight song listed.
d. When we created new marks and logos for Athletics this past year, we also created three individual logos for the bands (Marching Band, Pep Band and Pioneer Bands--all three marks identical to our sport-specific athletic logos)
e. We recognize the senior band members, along with cheerleaders and dance team members on Senior Day at football and men and women's basketball games, and for the pep band, we do the same at men's ice hockey senior night. We don't bring their parents out but we acknowledge their contributions throughout the season.
f. We take them all to post-season tournaments for football, basketball and hockey and they feel a part of the overall experience.
g. I, along with our head coaches if available, attend the end of year band banquet as a show of support for the hard work they have put in throughout the year.
h. We have our coaches thank the band in person either before or after key games for their support and impact on the game--nothing more than a simple thank you.
i. I personally thank them at the end of games for putting out a good effort.
j. I have worked with the band director on ordering pep band rugby shirts and and marching band bench covers for the football stadium stands
k. We have included the band, dance team and cheerleaders as options for donors to designate gifts to in our Pioneer Club athletic development brochure.
l. Worked with all three support groups to work together for in-game performances and to start up new traditions during games.
As you can see, most of the things we have done simply involve open communication wiht the band director and the band members themselves, and making them understand the vital role they play in a home court or home field advantage and then thanking them for dedicating the time to come out and work hard.
As far as what we do at The University of Georgia, we do the following:
1) pay the pep band members a small scholarship supplement for
basketball and volleyball
2) feed the pep band members pizza before all weekday events. This is to
make sure they have something eat if they have had class all day
Location
Cleveland, OH
Founded / Joined NACDA
1989 / 1992
Colors
Blue and White
President
Jeff Bain
Director of Athletics
Martin Methodist College
